Ellen Page Comes Out as Gay, Says She Wants to "Help Others Have an Easier and More Hopeful Time"

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Ellen Page arrives at the LA premiere of Fox Searchlight Pictures' "The East" presented by Piaget at the ArcLight Hollywood on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, in Los Angeles.

Updated at 8:09 AM EST on Saturday, Feb 15, 2014

Ellen Page wants to make a difference, and the first step in doing so, was revealing that she is gay.

The actress came out as a homosexual woman during a personal speech delivered at Time to THRIVE, a conference to promote the welfare of LGBT youth held at Bally's Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., (The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news).

Stars Steppin' Out

"I'm here today because I am gay," Page said to the crowd. "And because maybe I can make a difference. To help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility."

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The Juno star made also shared that she faced an inner struggle because she was also in the Hollywood spotlight.

"It's weird because here I am, an actress, representing--at least in some sense--an industry that places crushing standards on all of us," Page said. "Not just young people, but everyone. Standards of beauty. Of a good life. Of success. Standards that, I hate to admit, have affected me."

"You have ideas planted in your head, thoughts you never had before, that tell you how you have to act, how you have to dress and who you have to be. I have been trying to push back, to be authentic, to follow my heart, but it can be hard," she admitted.

After her moving speech, Page tweeted, "Thank you @HRC and everyone for all the love and support. X."